Charnock were eliminated from the Macron Cup in Round 1 after losing 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out. The score was 0-0 after 90 minutes.
The Reserves lost 2-1 at Furness Cavaliers. Liam McNally scored the goal.

This 1st Round tie in the Macron Cup was decided by a penalty shootout after neither side could find the net in the 90 minutes. The visiting goalkeeper saved three of the Charnock penalty kicks and Runcorn Town went through to Round 2 by a margin of 3-1. It was disappointing that one team had to miss out as the game was very finely balanced for the 90 minutes. Reid in the visiting goal was the busier of the two keepers; overall it was another fiercely contested game of football to entertain a crowd of 133.

The Charnock injury list does not seem to get any shorter and for this game Charnock were without Spencer Bibby, Ashley Young, Ryan Schofield, Nathan Fairhurst and Ashley Ball; Mark Woods was away on holiday. Jack Sanders, free from suspension, returned at the back with Troy Carsley moving into midfield. Alex Ralph started on the left for Jake Higham who was on the bench alongside Oliver Oxley who was replaced up front by Mark Adams. Returning after injury was James Walker who along with Callum Darcy made up a four man substitutes bench.

It was a fine warm afternoon with Charnock winning the toss and choosing to play towards the Mawdesley Plantation end. As expected it was a lively start with Runcorn at present lying in second place in the table and full of confidence after winning an FA Vase replay in midweek. The visitors won an early corner and then a free kick both of which came to nothing. Charnock’s first attack was from a forward header by Westwell and subsequently Grimshaw won a corner. The game was looking very evenly balanced and it remained so for the remainder of the match. With Jack Sanders back in defence and Charnock playing a back four there was little space for Runcorn to exploit. Mark Adams, now returning to full fitness after 10 months out of the side, alongside Grimshaw provided plenty of pace up front until he understandably ran out of steam in the second half. Matt Westwell, after making his full debut on the previous Wednesday, again showed up well in midfield with some neat passes. The early stages of the game were very much end to end with Jennings, Menagh and Waters all shooting wide for the visitors. At the other end a Grimshaw header went just past the angle of the goal and the keeper just beat Adams to the ball when Ralph centred. The best chance in the match to date fell to Charnock, Grimshaw put Adams in but Reid in goal turned his shot around the post. After the recent disappointments Charnock were producing a much more balanced performance. Reid had to pluck the ball off Grimshaw’s head after another centre by Ralph. The stocky winger looked back to his best getting down the left and centring rather than trying to dribble his way inside as has been his tendency in recent games. When Grimshaw and Regan swopped passes down the right, Danny’s centre was turned away for a corner. After O’Farrell fouled 30 yards out, Menagh hit a powerful shot that Halton had to tip over the bar. Grimshaw was then played clear in the inside left position but his shot hit the advancing Reid. A Runcorn left wing corner saw Weaver head over the bar and Charnock again almost took the lead just before half time. Grimshaw put Regan away down the right and Adams met his centre at the near post but under pressure he could not get a shot away and the ball went out for a corner. It had been an entertaining first half and Charnock had competed well against a team who have made an impressive start to the season.

The early stages of the second half saw Grimshaw shoot straight at Reid before there was a let-off for the Villagers, Waters found Brazel in front of goal but he failed to get enough on the ball and it ran away for a goal kick. On 58 minutes a chipped ball from Regan found Grimshaw at the back post but, under pressure, his header dropped just the wrong side of the post. Leon Wright, who had come on for ex-Liverpool and Bayern Munich player Dale Jennings, had not really got into the game but on 60 minutes he got free down the right and his cross bounced on top of the bar and eventually went away for a goal kick. Regan then set up Adams but Reid saved with his leg. On 62 minutes came the most controversial moment in the game, Adams was put in on goal Reid was off his line to dive at his feet the ball came back to Grimshaw his shot hit the bar bounced down and as Carl was about to head the ball into the net he was pushed in the back and missed the header. Amazingly the referee simply waved play on. Charnock were now carrying a real threat and another great move three minutes later was the result of Grimshaw back heeling a ball to put Regan away down the right, Adams met his centre to lay the ball back to Ralph and Reid made a fine save turning his powerful shot away for a corner. When Ralph played a neat ball out to Grimshaw on the right his shot was wide. Oliver Oxley replaced Adams on 72 minutes. Runcorn then created a couple of half chances before Jake Higham came on for Ralph after 80 minutes. The final 10 minutes saw Runcorn initially put the home defence under pressure but Charnock came back looking to grab a winner. Walker came on for Jordyn Fitton on 88 minutes. The referee played four added minutes bur neither side could produce a goal to break the deadlock and the tie, in accordance with the rules, went to a penalty shootout.

Grimshaw found the net with the first penalty but Noblet, O’Farrell and Regan all saw their efforts saved by Reid. Three successful penalties from Runcorn saw them go through 3-1 and qualify for the 2nd Round tie at either Alsager or Northwich Victoria.

Charnock are at home again this coming Tuesday 23rd October when they meet Ashton Athletic kick-off 7.45pm. Yet another long journey on Saturday 27th sees Charnock travel to meet Whitchurch Alport, kick-off 3.00pm.